Jay Cutler to Dolphins? … Ridiculous

In the span of a few months, quarterback Chad Pennington has gone from Dolphins’ savior, MVP candidate and Pro Bowl snub to trade bait.

Chad Henne is no longer the future of the franchise or a Bill Parcells’ favorite, but rather a bargaining chip for a blockbuster trade … a complete 180 for a regime that has shown considerable restraint with a long-term plan in mind since it arrived 15 months ago.

And that No. 25 draft pick everyone has been discussing suddenly has become expendable. Instead, wait 19 more picks – until pick No. 44 – for a shot at a No. 1 wide receiver for a team without one, a pass-rushing complement to Joey Porter or the shut-down corner the Dolphins haven’t had since Patrick Surtain.

Heck, might as well toss in that pick, too.

After all, the Jay Cutler-to-the-Dolphins speculation has been nothing if not absurd.

Isn’t this the same Jay Cutler who had no business being in the Pro Bowl in front of Pennington, who many were overselling as an MVP candidate?

Bet Fins GM Jeff Ireland can’t wait to swap out a solid quarterback situation in Miami for Cutler, a gunslinger who threw two first-quarter picks to give the Dolphins enough of a lead to eventually hold on and beat the Broncos on Nov. 2 in Denver.

Parcells must be pining to spend his final NFL seasons babysitting a 25-year-old quarterback who publicly demanded to be traded because he’s not getting the respect he deserves from his new head coach.

With free agency essentially wrapped up and the draft ahead, there’s not much going on.

But that’s no reason to create something where there isn’t anything.

The Dolphins seem to have their best quarterback situation in years.

Despite a four-interception collapse in the playoffs, Pennington is a veteran who fits where this franchise is right now, directing a ball-control, mistake-free offense while mentoring a promising 23-year-old, Henne.

Talented and battle-tested during four years as a starter at Michigan, Henne impressed offensive coordinator Dan Henning so much as a rookie Henning said Henne was every bit as good as the Falcons’ Matt Ryan.

But forget the Dolphins for a minute. Because if Cutler trade happens it’s going to come down more to what the Broncos would get than what another team would receive.

Cutler has three years left on his contract, so Denver is going to get the best deal available … if it even decides to ship Cutler.

Broncos first-year coach Josh McDaniels entertained a three-way trade with Tampa and New England involving Cutler because he wanted Matt Cassel, a young quarterback he groomed with the Patriots. That doesn’t mean McDaniels is interested in trading Cutler for anyone else.

And a 33-year-old Pennington, who is physically limited and injury prone, Henne, who hasn’t made an NFL start, and a late first-round pick isn’t a very enticing offer.

But it’s not going to come down to that because there’s no way the Dolphins are in the market for Cutler.